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Accounting policies - Additional Information (Details) gal in Millions |  | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jan. 24, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) gal | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Oct. 31, 2019 | Oct. 24, 2019 USD ($) | Feb. 11, 2016 USD ($)
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign Currency Transaction Gain (Loss), before Tax |  |  |  | $ 35,352 | $ 8,089 |  |  |
Cash, Uninsured Amount |  |  |  | 6,500,000 |  |  |  |
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  | 13,325,013 | 8,004,597 |  |  |
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Goodwill, Noncurrent |  |  |  | $ 0 | 379,651 |  |  |
Equity Method Investment, Additional Information |  |  |  | The Company uses the equity method of accounting for investments in common stock where the Company holds 20% to 50% of the voting stock of the investee and has significant influence over its operating and financial policies but does not meet the criteria for consolidation. |  |  |  |
Criteria for recognising investment at cost |  |  |  | Investments where the Company does not exercise significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee and holds less than 20% of the voting stock are recorded at cost. |  |  |  |
Accumulated Amortization of Other Deferred Costs |  |  |  | $ 2,400,000 | 2,200,000 |  |  |
Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value |  |  |  | 13,362,649 | 9,419,179 |  |  |
Cash And Restricted Cash Equivalents Held In Foreign Bank |  |  |  | 36,000,000 |  |  |  |
Contracts in progress |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of Other Deferred Charges |  |  |  | $ 179,353 | 179,353 |  |  |
Number of days after consumption billings are considered past due |  |  |  | 45 days |  |  |  |
Amount required to reduce the amount of water lost by the public water distribution system | gal |  |  |  | 438 |  |  |  |
CW Belize [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Goodwill, Noncurrent |  |  |  |  | $ 380,000 |  |  |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Contracts in progress |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of days after consumption billings are collected |  |  |  | 30 days |  |  |  |
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage Of Bad Debts |  |  |  | 1.00% | 1.00% |  |  |
Contracts in progress |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of days after consumption billings are collected |  |  |  | 35 days |  |  |  |
Aerex Industries Inc [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired | 49.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  | 51.00%
Manufacturing reporting units | $ 8,500,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of goodwill |  | $ 1,400,000 | $ 1,750,000 |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  | $ 4,885,211 | $ 6,285,211 |  |  |  |  | $ 8,035,211
PERC Water Corporation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired |  |  |  |  |  | 51.00% | 51.00% |
Goodwill |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 5,320,416 |
Certificates of Deposit [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value |  |  |  | $ 12,700,000 | $ 8,400,000 |  |  |
Bahamas [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deposits held in foreign bank |  |  |  | $ 7,400,000 |  |  |  |
Retail [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated Fair Value Carrying Amount Exceeded Percentage |  |  |  | 74.00% | 79.00% |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  | $ 1,170,511 | $ 1,170,511 |  |  |
Bulk [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated Fair Value Carrying Amount Exceeded Percentage |  |  |  | 58.00% | 62.00% |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  | $ 1,948,875 | $ 1,948,875 |  |  |
Capitalized Engineering Labor and Materials Cost [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Assets |  |  |  | 3,500,000 | $ 3,500,000 |  |  |
Manufacturing Units [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated Fair Value Carrying Amount Exceeded Percentage |  |  |  |  | 53.00% |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  |  | $ 4,885,211 | $ 4,885,211 |  |  |

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